Dianthus plant named ‘KLEDG20468’

ABSTRACT

A new Dianthus plant designated ‘KLEDG20468’ particularly distinguished by double purple-red flowers with pink borders and very early flowering, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Dianthus L.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEDG20468’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Dianthus,botanically known as Dianthus L., and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLEDG20468’. ‘KLEDG20468’ originated from anaturally-occurring, whole plant mutation from the Dianthus parent‘KLEDG12163’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,707) in May 2018 in TheNetherlands.

In September 2018, ‘KLEDG20468’ was first vegetatively propagated byvegetative stem cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany, and subsequently inLatina, Italy. ‘KLEDG20468’ was found to reproduce true to type insuccessive generations of asexual propagation in Stuttgart, Germany andLatina, Italy via vegetative stem cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of ‘KLEDG20468’ when grown under normal horticulturalpractices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Double, purple-red flowers having a pink border; and    -   2. Very early flowering.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Dianthus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph ofplants grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany. The colors shown areas true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures. The photograph is of a 30-week-old plant taken in May 2019and is of a whole plant of ‘KLEDG20468’ showing the foliage, buds, andflowers.

DESCRIPTION

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEDG20468’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. Data was collected in May 2019 on 7-month old plantsgrown in a plastic greenhouse. Color references are to The R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th)edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Caryophyllaceae.        -   Botanical.—Dianthus L.        -   Common.—Pot carnation.        -   Designation.—‘KLEDG20468’.-   Parentage: Mutation parent is ‘KLEDG12163’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.    24,707).-   Plant:    -   -   Propagation type.—Vegetative cuttings via stem, terminal            cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—10 to 14 days.        -   Root description.—Fine roots, young roots are RHS 161D,            mature roots are RHS 199C.        -   Rooting habit shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Plant form.—Upright.        -   Plant height.—15 cm to 17 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—22 cm to 25 cm.-   Lateral branches/stems:    -   -   Shape of the branch in cross-section.—Moderately angular.        -   Hollowness of the stem.—Absent, solid.        -   Length.—7 cm to 10 cm.        -   Diameter.—4 cm to 7 cm.        -   Internode length.—2 cm to 3 cm.        -   Internode quantity per branch.—3 to 5.        -   Number of internodes per branch/stem.—3 to 5.        -   Node length.—0.2 cm to 0.4 cm.        -   Node diameter.—0.2 cm to 0.4 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS 146B.        -   Flower clustering on the lateral branch.—In some lateral            branches.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Length.—4 cm to 5 cm.        -   Width.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Cross-section of the leaf.—Moderately concave.        -   Curvature of the leaf.—Absent.        -   Glaucosity of the leaf.—Weak.        -   Leaf color.—Upper surface: Immature leaves are RHS 138A and            mature leaves are RHS 137A. Lower surface: Immature leaves            are RHS 138A and mature leaves are RHS 137A.        -   Venation pattern.—Absent.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Semi-double, small sprays, round.        -   Fragrance.—Present.        -   Position of the flowers compared to the foliage of the            plant.—Moderately above.        -   Profile of both the upper and lower part in the lateral            view.—Convex.        -   Diameter of the flower.—1.8 cm to 2.2 cm.        -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to autumn.        -   Position of flowers relative to the foliage.—Moderately            above.        -   Number of flowers per spray.—3 to 5.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—14 to 18 days.-   Buds:    -   -   Length.—0.5 cm to 1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm to 0.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Color.—RHS 138A.        -   Extrusion of the styles at the bud stage.—Absent.-   Corolla:    -   -   Quantity of petals and arrangement.—7 to 13 and arranged in            several whorls.        -   Corolla height.—0.8 cm to 1.5 cm.        -   Petal length.—1.8 cm to 2.5 cm.        -   Petal width.—1.0 cm to 1.5 cm.        -   Petal shape.—Spoon-shaped.        -   Petal apex.—Obtuse.        -   Petal base.—Acute.        -   Petal margin.—Serrated.        -   Depth of petal margin.—Shallow.        -   Petal texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Petal color (both immature and mature).—Upper surface: RHS            58A with an RHS 68B border. Lower surface: RHS 69A.        -   Macule.—Present; around 0.7 cm in size and RHS 58A.        -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals and arrangement: Composed of 5            sepals. Longitudinal axis of the lobes of the calyx:            Straight. Shape: Campanulate. Calyx height: 0.8 cm to            1.5 cm. Calyx diameter (at the apex): 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm.            Sepal texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Smooth. Sepal            color: Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS 137D.        -   Position of the outer lobes of the epicalyx in relation to            the calyx.—Adpressed and free.        -   Apex shape of the outer lobes of the epicalyx.—Acute.        -   Tip length of the outer lobes of the epicalyx.—Short.        -   Apex shape of the inner lobes of the epicalyx.—Medium            acuminate.        -   Tip length of the inner lobes of the epicalyx.—Short.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—5 cm to 8 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS 146B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Moderate. Filament length: 0.5            cm to 0.8 cm. Filament color: RHS 157B. Anther length:            0.1 cm. Anther diameter: 0.05 cm. Anther color: RHS 155B.            Pollen amount: Absent.        -   Pistils.—Not observed.-   Fruit and seed set: Not observed.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect    resistance observed.

COMPARISON OF ‘KLEDG20468’ WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEDG20468’ is distinguished from the mutation parent as described inTable 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Line Mutation Parent Characteristic‘KLEDG20468’ ‘KLEDG12163’ Main flower color RHS 58A RHS 75B Secondaryflower color RHS 68B RHS 71A Flower color pattern Border Bi-color

‘KLEDG20468’ can be compared to the commercial Dianthus variety‘KLEDG18305’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,019). Differences between thevarieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEDG20468’‘KLEDG18305’ Flower type Double Single Flower color Purple-red with pinkborder Pink with purple ring Flowering time Very early; aroundEarly-medium; around 195 days after potting 205 days after potting (coldcultivation) (cold cultivation)

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Dianthus plant designated‘KLEDG20468’ as illustrated and described herein.